ESDP: SECURITY SECTOR REFORM IN DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO (7733/06)
Letter from the Chairman to Rt Hon Douglas
Alexander MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Thank you for your Explanatory Memorandum dated
23 March 2006 which Sub-Committee C considered at its meeting
on 30 March. The Sub-Committee agreed to clear the document from
scrutiny.
We note that questions remain over the financing
of this extended Joint Action. We accordingly ask that you provide
us with a detailed financial breakdown as soon as this becomes
available.
30 March 2006
Letter from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister
for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Chairman
On Friday 15 September, the General Affairs
and External Relations Council agreed Conclusions indicating that
the EU would be prepared to take a leading role in co-ordinating
international security sector reform (SSR) efforts in the Democratic
Republic of Congo DRC. An ESDP SSR mission would build on the
work of the two current missions, EUSEC RD Congo and EUPOL Kinshasa,
which are both nearing the end of their mandate. The work of these
missions has been successful, but their mandates were narrowly
targeted on getting the country through the election period, and
focused on individual sectors within the security sector. The
view amongst EU partners is that a future mission should assist
the Congolese authorities with a co-ordinated approach to the
security sector as a whole, rather than concentrating on army
reform and the police force in Kinshasa.
Ultimate decisions on how to reform the Congolese
security sector can only be taken by a new, democratically mandated
government in the DRC. Given the current political climate, it
is unlikely that this will take place before the New Year at the
very earliest. Current discussions in Brussels and Kinshasa are
focussed on the shape of possible future ESDP involvement, rather
than on designing programmes and taking decisions. I will ensure
that you are alerted to any firm plans for an ESDP mission at
the earliest opportunity.
18 September 2006
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